TeachingEnglish
Choral drills
Submitted by TE Editor on 6 May, 2009 - 14:39
I am always reluctant to use choral drills in my classes to practise spoken language but my learners’ reactions always prove me wrong. They seem to really enjoy this kind of activity. The alternative ways of setting this up to make it more communicative, including peer-led work, are useful. But more than that, my learners just seem to feel that this is fun, important and easy to be good at. By Paul Kaye
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Comments
Dharitri Priyadarshini
What is a coral drill? Can anyone help?
I have used little tunes for years to teach my children common things they need to memorize. For example we would have them learn their phone numbers to the tune of "Mary had a little lamb." They did have fun and remembered their little ditties for years after.
This is useful in teaching pronunciation and in contractions which occur in spoken form.
The teacher models the form and the students repeat it as a whole class. This is choral drill.
Beginners need a comfortable environment, and choral drills are easy and safe. Even if their pronunciation is not perfect, they go along with the group and don't feel exposed. I like to use choral drills when I introduce a new short dialogue, and sometimes I use some drama techniques -- I ask them to repeat the sentences with different feelings (bored, angry, extremely happy, etc). My students do enjoy that part of the lesson. I also think it helps with pronunciation -- I always tell my students it's like working out, they need to train their tongue muscles, and repetiton does that.
The problem with choral drills is when it's overdone (endless repetition can get pretty boring), or when they are the only form of oral production students have.
Helena Meyer
ELT Teacher and Teacher Trainer
Salvador, Brasil
Dear All
Choral drill is an interesting way of practising language. These activities provide the learners a safe environment to practise language accurately which builds up their confidence and motivates them to practise using the target language. This type of exercise does not necessarily have to be strict, you can be animated and make it really enjoyable, enabeling the students to remember and practice with enthsiasm.
Cheers!
Niranga
Singing!
That's a great way to make students interested in the language! And it's a lot of fun!
I am going to have to try this! I teach non English speaking adults in the local community, and I think it's been getting kind of "boring" for them lately. This sounds like a fun way to spice things up for a change. Any song suggestions for adults? (I kind of want to stay away from Patriotic songs).
I didn't know choral drills at first then when I keep on reading, I have found a really nice answer from awesome teachers around the world, which is making me so much appreciate with this useful site. I think it is really help with to brush away shyness, I'm kind of scared to say a word alone and don't want to be a center of all attention. This is a class that I want to be in. :)